Combined dripper and cap



J. HOCH COMBINED DROPPER-AND CAP Filed Feb. 19, 1958 INVENTOR John Hon-l2 BY Jig/v.

. AT RNEY Jan. 24, 1939.

Patented Jan. 24, 1939 UNITED STATES COMBINED DROPPE-R AND GAP John Hoch, Corona, Long Island, N. Y., assignor to Victor Metal Products Corporation, Brooklyn, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application February 19, 1938, Serial No. 191,376

-9 Claims.

This invention relates to combined bottle caps and liquid droppers and particularly to the means for uniting the dropper and the cap so that the cap and dropper may be removed from the bottle as a unit.

My invention contemplates the provision of substantially rigid parts which may readily be secured together to form a unitary structure easily attachable to and detachable from the bottle and carrying an annular resilient washer for sealing the bottle top, said parts serving both as an adequate closure for the bottle and as a dropper for readily removing part of the bottle contents.

My invention further contemplates the provi sion of a combined bottle stopper and dropper comprising parts which may be readily screwed together and unscrewed from each other when necessary and thereby forming an adequate secure connection between the parts.

The various objects of the invention will be clear from the description which follows, and from the drawing, in which,

Fig. 1 is a partial vertical section and partial elevation of one form of my invention as it appears in its sealing position attached to a bottle.

Fig. 2 is a similar view of a modified form of the same.

Fig. 3 is a similar view of another modified form of the same.

Fig. 4 is a similar view of form of the same.

In the practical embodiment of the invention which I have shown by way of example, the bottle Ill, as is customary, is provided with suitable screw threads as H at its neck which is intended to receive a suitable rigid cap. As shown in Fig. 1, the cap I2 is provided with threads l3 at the interior surface of its skirt i4, said threads cooperating with the threads I I so that the cap and the parts carried thereby may readily be screwed on to and unscrewed from the bottle neck. The top I5 of the cap is provided with an internally threaded opening E6 of less diameter than that of the threads I3. Said cap is preferably formed of a suitable plastic composition designed to be molded into its proper shape and such as is well known by and sold under the registered trademark Bakelite. The rigid dropper tube may similarly be made of a translucent plastic composition or of glass and comprises the elongated and preferably slightly tapered tubular portion ll open at both ends thereof. The upper end portion of the tube of Fig. 1 above the tapered part I I is enlarged at its outer wall to form the externally a similar modified threaded portion l8 as well as the annular outwardly projecting flange l9 above the portion !8, said flange being of sufficient diameter to engage and stretch the resilient bulb 29 of the usual type, preferably made of rubber or the like. The lower end of said bulb may readily be forced over the flange I 9 to secure the bulb to the tube in a manher which will readily be understood.

Arranged in the recess 2! on the under surface of the cap top I5 is the annular sealing washer 22 of resilient material such as is customarily used for that purpose, for example rubber. The dropper tube is'secured to the cap by passing the tapered portion ll of said tube downwardly through the opening I6 and screwing the threads I6 and I8 together. After the bulb 20 has been secured in place, the four parts of the device, namely, the cap I5, the tube, the bulb and the washer, form a unitary assembly designed to be screwed on to and unscrewed from the bottle neck with the top of the bottle in sealing contact with the washer 22 and with the tube portion ll extending downwardly into and toward the bottom of the bottle. Liquid may readily be drawn into the tube I! by alternately squeezing and releasing the bulb 20 to the desired extent whereafter the cap may be unscrewed from the bottle with the thus removed contents carried in the tube.

Referring to Fig. 2, wherein I have shown a modified form of the invention, the cap 25 is provided with the threads 26 on its skirt which threads are similar to the threads Id. The opening 21 in the top 28 of the cap is not threaded as in the form of Fig. l, but suitable threads as 25 are formed on the enlarged intermediate portion or flange 30 of the dropper tube 3 l, which threads are of the same size and type as the threads 26. Projecting upwardly from the flange 3!] is the reduced cylindrical portion 32. Adapted to be passed through the opening 21 and arranged above the portion 32, is the partly enlarged convex portion 33 on to which the bulb 28 may be readily secured. The washer 34, similar to the washer 22, is provided with a central opening and fits closely onto the lower part of the tube 31 and is also adapted to be engaged by the top of the bottle neck to seal the bottle. The tube 3| is arranged in place by first inserting the portions 32 and 33 into the, interior of the cap and screwing the threads 29 of the flange 30 into the threads 26 of the skirt and against the underside of the top of the cap, the parts 33 and 32 passing through the opening 21 of the cap. The washer 34 maybe preassembled on the lower portion of the tube during this operation, or may be later forced into place.

As shown in Fig. 3, the cap 35 is provided with a reduced upwardly projecting extension 36, said extension being provided with internal screw threads 3'! of less diameter than the screw threads of the skirt portion of the cap. The tube 38 at its lower end is provided with a tubular tapered portion which terminates in the annular flange 39 extending outwardly therefrom and adapted to enter the recess 40 on the under side of the cap top. Above the flange 39, is the externally threaded screw portion 4|, of the same diameter and shape as that of the threads 31, while the uppermost end 42 of the tube is reduced to a diameter slightly less than that of said threads. The annular resilient washer 43 engages the under side of the flange 39 and the flat under side 44 of the top of the cap. To assemble the parts, the upper part 42 of the tube is passed into the interior of the cap and screwed into place until the flange 39 sets into the recess 40. The lock nut 45 is then passed downwardly around the upper end 42 of the tube and screwed into place on the threads 4! to maintain the parts in their thus assembled positions.

Referring now to that form of my invention shown in Fig. 4, the cap 50 is provided at the under face of its top with the recess into which set the washer 52. The tube 55 has a flange 56 adapted to engage the inner peripheral part of the washer but to leave a sufficient area of the outer part of said washer exposed for sealing engagement with the bottle top. At its upper end, the tube part 55 is provided with screw threads 5'! engaged by corresponding screw threads in the bulb holder 58. The flange 59 on said bulb holder serves similarly to the flange i9 for holding the elastic bulb in its proper position. The parts are assembled by passing the tube part 55 upwardly through the opening 60 of the cap until the flange 55 engages the washer 52, whereafter the bulb holder 58 is: screwed to the top of the tube 55 and with its bottom against the top of the cap to firmly hold the parts together.

As has been indicated in all the various forms of my invention, screw threads are depended upon to hold the rigid parts positively but removably in place, the various tube and cap parts being preferably made of comparatively rigid material such as glass or synthetic moldable plastic composition, preferably translucent in the case of the tube, whereby the height of liquid drawn into the tube by the bulb is visible, it being understood that the cap may be made opaque or of any desired color and configuration.

It will be seen that I have provided a combined bottle stopper and liquid dropper made of parts which can be firmly and positively held together, the stopper providing adequate sealing means to seal the bottle with which it is used and that in view of the comparative rigidity of the stopper and tube and the ease with which they can be assembled, a durable, dependable and effective structure is attained.

While I have shown and described certain speciflc embodiments of my invention, I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself there-to, but intend to claim the invention as broadly as may be permitted by the state of the prior art and the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A combined bottle cap and dropper comprising a molded cap member having an internally threaded skirt portion and a top overlying said skirt portion and provided with an opening of less diameter than that of the skirt portion, a resilient washer in the cap member below the top and arranged to engage the top surface of a bottle capped by said cap member, and an elongated rigid tube passing through the opening of the cap member and extending upwardly therebeyond and terminating in a bulb-holding member, said bulb-holding member having an enlargement thereon, and a rubber bulb stretched over said bulb-holding member and held frictionally thereon by the enlargement of said bulb holding member, said tube being provided with external threads for engagement with corresponding internal threads on one of said members.

2. In a combined bottle cap and dropper, a molded cap member having a top and a skirt portion, the skirt portion having internal threads adapted to engage the corresponding threads of a bottle neck, the tophaving an opening therein of less diameter than that of the internal threads of the skirt portion, an elongated rigid tube open at both ends and passing through the opening of the top and extending therebeyond in both directions, a bulb-holding member at the upper end of said tube, said bulb-holding member having an annular enlargement thereon, a rubber bulb open at its lower end and stretched about said enlargement and frictionally retained on the bulb-holding member, said tube having external threads thereon below the bulb-holding member adapted to engage corresponding threads in one of said members.

3. In a combined bottle cap and dropper, a cap having a top provided with an opening and an internally threaded skirt depending from the top and having an inner diameter greater than that of said opening, a tube passing through the opening and extending therethrough in both directions and below the skirt, a resilient washer carried bythe cap and having a central openingv therein, said tube passing through theopening of the washer and being in engagement with the peripheral wall of said opening, and threaded means on the tube adjustably securing said tube in place relatively to the cap and permitting detachment of the tube from the cap, said tube terminating in its upper end in a bulb-holding portion, and a rubber bulb frictionally carried by said bulb-holding portion.

4. In a combined bottle cap and liquid dropper, a cap provided with a top having an opening therein and with an internally threaded skirt, a resilient washer carried by the cap, a tube passing through the washer and the opening of the cap and extending upwardly above the cap and downwardly below the cap, an annular outwardly extending flange on and integral with the tube, said flange engaging a surface of the washer, the diameter of said tube below the flange being sufficiently smaller than the diameter of the internal threads of the skirt to permit the threaded neck of a bottle to be inserted between said tube and said skirt and against the washer to seal the bottle top when-the cap is screwed in place, and a bulbholding terminal part on the tube.

5. In a combined bottle cap and liquid dropper, a cap having a top provided with an opening therein, a skirt depending from the top and integral therewith and internally threaded, the threads of said skirt being of greater diameter than that of said opening, a tube passing through the opening of the cap, a threaded part on the tube engaging the cap and reinovably seeming the tube to the cap for movement as a unit therewith and for detachment therefrom, and a bulbholding part on the upper end of the tube above the cap.

6. In a combined bottle cap and liquid dropper, a cap provided with a top having an opening therein, a tube passing through the opening, a threaded portion on the tube above the opening, and means for detachably securing the cap to the tube comprising a member having internal threads thereon engaging the external threads of the tube and having the lowermost surface thereof engaging the top of the cap, said member having a greatest diameter greater than that of the tube and thereby forming an enlargement for the retention of a rubber bulb on the end of the tube when said rubber bulb is stretched over the enlargement, and a flange on the tube of greater diameter than and below the opening.

7. In a combined bottle cap and liquid dropper, a cap provided with a top having an opening therein, a tube passing through the opening, an annular flange on the tube below the opening, means cooperating with the flange to secure the tube to the cap comprising a member screwed to the tube above the opening, and an annular Washer surrounding the tube and arranged within the cap, said washer being engaged by a face of the flange.

8. In a combined bottle cap and liquid dropper, a cap having a top and a depending skirt, said top having a central opening therein, a tube passing through the opening, threaded means for detachably securing the tube to the cap comprising an externally threaded integral portion of the tube and a cooperating internally threaded part associated with the cap, a bulb-holding member at the upper end of the tube, and an annular resilient washer within'the skirt and surrounding the tube.

9. In a combined bottle cap and liquid dropper, a cap having a top and a depending skirt, said top having an opening therein, a tube arranged in and extending above and below the opening, cooperating threaded elements on and integral with the tube and the cap respectively for securing the tube to the cap, and an annular outwardly extending flange on the tube.

JOHN HOCH. 

